Growing Independence Movement in Greenland Amid Global Leaders' Race to Be the Polar Power

New Delhi: As global powers intensify their efforts to mark a claim in the Arctic, Greenland, finds itself at the centre of a geopolitical tug-of-war. The world's largest island's longstanding aspiration for independence is gaining momentum amid this rising pressure. However, Prime Minister Mute Egege has expressed a willingness to cooperate with key players, including the United States, Denmark, and the European Union.

Greenland has been a part of Denmark since 1953 and has balanced its cultural identity and economic reliance on Copenhagen with a growing desire for self-independence. However, in the recent few years, the island's strategic importance surged due to the availability of vast mineral resources including rare earth elements and its prime location, the Arctic. The melting ice in the Arctic has opened new shipping routes and resource opportunities, drawing global attention to establish a foothold in the race to become the leading polar power.

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With a population of just 57,000, Greenland’s independence movement is gaining traction, particularly among the youth and pro-business factions. While sovereignty remains a central ambition, the island’s leadership has expressed openness to international alliances, including with the United States. 

The US, viewing Greenland as an important aspect of its Arctic strategy, has been keen on taking over its presence there. Soon after assuming power as the President of the United States, Donald Trump earlier stated, "I think we are going to have residents “want to be with us” and that it is an “absolute necessity” for international security.

In response, Prime Minister Egede firmly stated, “Greenland is ours,” rejecting Trump’s assertion that the U.S. would secure the territory “one way or another,” despite the administration’s stated support for Greenland’s self-determination. 

What Makes Trump Desperate for Greenland?

Donald Trump, now in his second term as US President, has repeatedly voiced his intention to acquire Greenland. Shortly after taking office, he told reporters, "I think we are going to have it; I think Greenland we'll get because it has to do with freedom of the world." He emphasised that the island’s residents "want to be with us" and described the move as an "absolute necessity" for international security.

Also read | Faced With Trump's Threats Over Greenland, Denmark's PM Seeks Support From Her EU Partners

A key drive behind Trump’s push for Greenland, as he has articulated, is both national and global security. The United States has maintained a military presence on the island since World War II, including the Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base), a small but strategic missile defence outpost. Trump has suggested this base could integrate into the Golden Dome Missile Defense System, a US initiative aimed at safeguarding the nation.

Greenland's geographic position—offering the shortest path between North America and Europe—enhances its value for military and ballistic missile early-warning capabilities. The U.S. also seeks to bolster its strategic footprint by deploying radars in surrounding waters, linking Iceland, the UK, and Greenland. This would enable tracking of Russian and Chinese vessels navigating these routes, further solidifying America’s security interests in the region.

Tensions are set to rise further as US Second Lady Usha Vance and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz prepare to visit Greenland this week, a move met with strong resistance from Egede and his interim government. The visit underscores Trump’s persistent rhetoric about a potential US takeover of the island, amplifying the stakes in this Arctic power struggle.